Shooting near Strasbourg Christmas market leaves at least 2 dead

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- A shooting in Strasbourg, France, on Tuesday left at least two people dead, 11 others injured and the suspected shooter at large, local officials said.

Strasbourg Mayor Roland Ries announced the two deaths late Tuesday along with 11 injuries near a Christmas market.

At least two people were in critical condition. The shooter was also injured by soldiers on patrol as part of France's Sentinelle anti-terror operation, but managed to escape.

The French Interior Ministry said there was a "serious public security incident" in the city near the German border. Officials ordered residents to stay indoors as police search for the gunman.

The shooting happened at one of multiple public squares in the city, Place Kleber, the BBC reported.

Authorities said they're treating the attack as a terrorist act. The gunman, who had not been caught, was tentatively identified as a known security threat, The Telegraph reported, citing French media.

Officials halted public transportation and cordoned off the area. The European Parliament also locked down its headquarters near the shooting site.

"Shooting in downtown Strasbourg. Thank you all for staying home while waiting for a clarification of the situation," Strasbourg Deputy Mayor Alain Fontanel tweeted.

Editor's note: An earlier version of this story said four people were dead based on a statement from Mayor Ries. French officials later downgraded the death toll to two on Dec. 11, before >increasing it to three Dec. 12.